Collapsible skirt-form.



C. A. UFFORD.

COLLAPSIBLE SKIRT FORM.

APPLICATION FILED mm: 12, 1913 RENEWED FEB. 5,1915.

1,168,444. Patented 32111.18, 1916;

2 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

pr snail: rarnn' opinion.

CHARLES A. nrronn, or nosron, MAssAonUsErrs.

COLLAPSIBLE SKIRTFOBM.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 18, 1916..

Application filed. June 12, 1913, Serial No. 773,238. Renewed February5, 1915. Serial No. 6,373.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. Urroan, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State ofMassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCollapsible Skirt-Forms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a skeleton form adapted to be secured to thelower end of a bust form and to support a skirt depending from a bustform, the skirt form being composed of a series of bands determiningthediameter of the form and a series of longitudinal flexible stripsintersected and pivoted to the bands and determining the length of theform, the pivotal connection between the strips and the bands enablingthe form to be collapsed lengthwise, either partially to vary itslength, or wholly to reduce it to compact form for transportation.

My inventionhas for its chief object to provide means for supporting theform either in its full or partly extended adjustment, and preventingits accidental collapse from saidadjustment.

The invention has for its object to enable the waist and hip portions ofthe form to remain at their maximum length when the lower portion of theform is partially col lapsed to decrease the length of the form.

Another object is to provide means whereby the form may be adjustablyflattened laterally, as, for instance, when it is j desired to vary thedistance from hip to hip,

relatively to the distance or space from front to rear.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the improvementswhich I will now proceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings,,Figure 1 represents a side elevation of askirt form embodying my invention, fully extended.

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation showing a form collapsed forshipment. F ig. 3 vrep,- resents a top plan View of the form. Fig.

t represents a side view showing the lower.

portion of the form partially collapsed to reduce its length, the upper,or waist, and

hip portions remaining at their maximum length. Fig. 5 is a detailperspective View of one end jof one of the annular bands.

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of adjacent ends of two strutmembers hereinafter described, when said strut members are folded up.Fig. 7 is a detail perspective View of a preferred connection at thepoint where the annnular bands and vertical flexible strips cross eachother. Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary view showing the end portions ofone of the adjustable bands and the bolt and nut which adjustablyconfine the end portions of the strip. Fig. 9 represents an enlargedsectional detail hereinafter referred to. Fig. 10 represents a seccation. Fig. 15 represents a fragmentary view hereinafter referred to.

The same reference characters indicate the same parts in all thefigures. I

My improved skirt form is composed of a series of annular bands 12 whichdetermine the diameter of the form, and a series of flexible strips 13which intersect or extend across the bands 12, and are connected theretoby pivots 1d, thesaid strips determining the length of the form and bemgadapted toswing relatively to the bands to either partially collapse theform as shown by Fig. 4, or wholly collapse the same as shown by Fig. 2.Said bands and strips are preferably made of resilient sheet metal.

' Each band is preferably composed of two metal strips, each formingone-half of the diameter of the band, the ends of said stripsoverlapping asindicated in Fig. 8, and be ing provided with longitudinalslots 15 through which extend headed bolts 16 pro vided with clampingwing nuts 17, whereby the overlapping ends may be firmly clampedtogether, the bands beingadpistable 1n d1- length of the strut'to bevaried; When thestrut members are clamped to the cross bar sections 27,the entire structure becomes ameter by means of the slots and bolts andV firmly secured by the bolts in any adjustment of which they arecapable. The upper band ofthe series constitutes the waist band, andtoit are adjustably connected angular brackets having vertical members19, and horizontal members 20, Fig. 9, whereby the form may be securedto a base 21 of a bust form. The members 19 are pivotally connected withthe waist band by the bolts 16 and nuts 17, and the horizontalmembers 20are'provided with keyhole-shaped slots 22 which receivethe heads ofscrews 23 inserted in and projecting slightly below the baseel of thebust form. Provision is thus made for quickly securing the skirt form tothe bust form, the connecting means being wholly within the waist bandso that there areno securing devices on the exterior of either i'ormliable to catch and tear fabrics.

A central standard or strut is provided which extends vertically throughthe center of the formirom bottom to top and is adapted to prevent theaccidental collapse o fthe form; said strut being engaged with the-twoend bands of the series and withone or more of the intermediate bands.

The preferred construction of the strut i and of the means connectingthe same with the bands is that shown by Figs. 3 and 10, the strut beingcomposed of a plurality of sheet metal members 2% having longitudinalslots 25 in their overlapping end portions.

The strut members 2 1 are adjustably conneo'ted with each other and withthe upper and lower bands and with any desired num ber of theintermediate bands by sheet metal cross bars attached to and extendingacross said bands, in such'manner as to remain attached to the form whencollapsed. Each cross bar is composedof two sections 27, the"overlapping ends of which have longitudinal slots 28 which receiveheaded bolts 29 provided with clamping wing nuts'SO. The outer ends ofthe cross bar sections 27 arebent to form ears31, Fig. 3,-whichare'con'nected by pivots 32 with the bands 12. The slots 25 and bolts 29enable the self-supported and free from liability of accidentalcollapse.

In case it is desirable to partly collapse the form to reduce itslength, leaving it in operativecondition, the length of thestrutis'correspondingly' adjustable by means of the slots 25. One end of eachstrut member is'provided with an open slot 33, Fig. 2,

adapted to swing into and out of engagern'ent with the correspondingbolt 29, so that when the strut is to be rendered inoperative, the nuts30 are loosened andthe strut members are swung'out of engagement'withthe a tubular member 24? attached to one of the members andtelescopically engaged with the other, the members 24 being providedwith sheet metal sockets 35 having ears 3 1 adapted to be secured by thebolts 29 to the cross bars of the bands 12. When the strut is notrequired for use, it's members'are removed from the sockets 35.

Owing to the pivotal connection between the strips 13 andthe bands 12,the form is liable to be racked, or distorted morelor less while fullyerected, because the strips are free to twist or turn on the pivots ltfrom their vertical positions toward the inclined positions shown byFig. 4, notwithstanding the fact that the form is supported by theinternal strut. In other words, the strut does not entirely prevent atwisting movement of the strips 13, and the racking oi": the form.strips to the bands practically rigid or nonpivotal and prevent theracking of the'form by even slight twisting movements of the strips, 1provide inclined sheet metal braces 36, these braces being pivotallyconnected to a portion of the structure, such as one of the bands 12,and separably engaged with an adjacent portion, such as the adjacentband, the inclination of the braces enabling them to prevent pivotalmovements of the strips on the bands and hold the strips and bands inrigid relation to each other. One or any greater number of the braces 36may be em-' cated by Fig. at, without, shortening the upper or waistand'hi'p portion'of the form, I make the longitudinal strips 13 insections, each longitudinal strip including a lower section whichextendscontinuously from the lower end of'the form to the band desig-' nated12*, said band being atthe lower end of the hip portion of the form, theupper portions 13 of the strips being made in separate pieces, so thatthey may remain vertical while the lower portions are inclined. Thisstructure also, of'course, permits the upper section to be reduced inheight, independently of the lower section. For instance the upperportion can be collapsed as indicated in Fig. 2, while the-lowerclamping ends may all be of the SEIIIIBSIZB' so thatonly' one style ofbolt will be required throughout the entire structure.

To render the connection of the The lower ends of the upper sectionslBfmitting the sections 13 to have a limited in-: dependent verticalmovement. These elon. gated slots38 enable the sections 13 to be. madeof uniform length, and stillnpermit them to be adjusted to make theupper endof the skeleton form with a proper taper, it being understood,of course, that, owing to the shape of the hips, some of the sections 13will be inclined more or less away from the vertical; The slots 38permit strips of uniform length to be used, andyet insure that the upperor waist-band will be horizontal. v

The members 24- maybe made of sections having ears 39, (Figs. 6 and14),.said struts and ears being slotted as at 41 (Fig. 6) ,each slotbeing continuous and extendingboth ways from the. angle or bend." A boltand wing-nut 40. is employed at each joint so; made, so that when thestrut members are.

fitted together, as shown in Fig. 14, with the ears 39 together, saidbolt and wing-nut can be employed to make the said structure rigid. Atthe same time, this structure permits the sectionsor members of thestrut to turn a little independently, considering the connecting boltsas pivots, so as to prevent twisting of the strut when the lower portionof the form is constructed, as shown in Fig. 4-. By loosening the boltand wing-nutssufficiently, however, the bolts can he slid along to theother ends of the slots ll and the sections or members of the strut canbe folded up, as indicated in Fig. 6. Eachof the up-i.

per strip sections 13* may be composed of a plurality of sectionspivoted together, as shown in Fig. 13.= I

To prevent the outermost overlapped end of the band 12 from projectingoutwardly so that goods will becaught thereupon, I preferably form theextreme outermost end with ears 42 (Figs. 5 and 8), said ears being bentto form lips which embrace a slot upon the portion of the annular band12 which is overlapped, as described. In order that these ears or lipsmay pass by a joint be tween a band 12 and strip 13, means arepreferably provided for insuring that there shall be a space between themembers 12 and 13, as best shown in Fig. 7 a suitable washer 43 beingapplied to thepivot rivet 14, between members 12 and 18. 1

The entire device may be mounted upon w casters 4%, as indicated in Fig.4, said casters being attached to the lowermost annular band 12. i i

In practice, the upper end of the strut, whetherof the form shown inFig. 10, or

that shownin Fig. 12, will be suitably con-.

nected to the bustform to hold it relatively to the skirt form- 1Referring to Fig...3, itwill be readily understood that since thecross-bar sections 27 are relatively. adjustable, the length of thetransverse connection as a whole, can be varied so as to flatten the hipportion of the skirt form, more or less, to increase or diminishthe'width of the hips, or increase or.

diminish the measurement from front to rear. This adjustment of thecrossbar sec-, tions 27, in connection with the adjustment of the bands12, so as to vary the size, I regard as of importance,since these twoadjustmentscombine toenable me to get accuratelyshaped hip portions ofthe skeleton form, I p

The strut construction provides for holding the top and bottom membersof the form at a' fixeddistance apart, thereby enablingv the usual baseand sup meto dispense with porting stand rising therefrom. 7

If it should be desired to employ only the lower part of the form shownin Figs. 1 and 4, thatis, if the upper or hip portion of the skirt "formwith, and a longer bust form employed, the base of the bust formindicated at 21 in Fig. 9, would then, of course, be secured to theupper annular band of the lower portion of the skirt form. The bracketmembers 19 and 20, shown in Fig. 9, would have their vertical members 19secured to the inside of the upper band of the skirt form in the samemanner as illustrated in Fig. 9. It is essential, of course, that thebrackets shall be inside of the upper ring, or annular member, becauseif they were to expand outside of the same, they would interfere withthe folding of the skirt form. V

. Skirt forms composed of annular bands and vertical strips intersectingthe bands and riveted thereto have been known for at least forty: years,the rivets forming a pivotal connection between the bands and strips andpermitting the swinging of the strips on the bands until the stripsbecome helical no one has provided adequate means for were tobe removedor dispensed I firmly connecting the bands and strips to maintain theform rigidly erected, and releasableor adapted to be renderedinoperative to permit the collapse of the form. I have provided twoforms of releasable means for this purpose, viz., first the bolts 29 and1 nuts 30, the nuts when set up preventing relativeturning movements ofthe bands 12 and strips 24:, and permitting such movements whenloosened, and secondly the brace 36pivotedto aportion of the structureand and provided with detachably secured to an adjacent portion,

said brace being inclined relatively to the bands and strips andpreventing relative" turning movementsthereof when secured at both endsto the structure, and permitting such movements when detached at one endtherefrom;

1. A collapsible skirtform-comprising a series of'annular bands,thebandat one end of the series constituting a waist band, a

plurality of flexible strips each "intersecting and pivoted to all thebands, so that the form may be longitudinally collapsed, a longitudinalinternal strut adapted to prevent the collapse of the form, the strutbeing composed of detachably connected sec tionsadapted to be separatedto render the strut inoperative, and means for holding said sectionsconnected to the form when the latter is collapsed. I

2. A collapslble'skirt form comprising a series of annular bands, theband at one end of the series constituting a waistband, a plurality offlexiblestrlps" each intersect ing and pivoted to all thebands', sothatthe form" may be longitudinally collapsed, and a longitudinal internalstrut adapted to prevent the collapse'of the form, the strut beingcomposed of longitudinally slotted sections, andprovided with devicesengaging said slots'w'hereby the sections may be detachably connected,and adjusted relatively to each other to vary'th'e length of the strut.

3. A collapsible form comprising a series of annular bands, the band,atone end ofthe series constituting 'a waist-band, a plurality offlexible longitudinal strips each intersecting and pivoted to thewaistband" and the "lowest-band being provided with cross bars, andsag-longitudinal internal strut engagedwith-said cross bars to preventthe collapseo'fthe form.

4. A collapsible form comprising a se" ries of annularbands, the band"at one end of the series constituting a waist band, a plurality offlexible longitudinalstrips each intersecting and pivoted to 'all'of thebands,

the waist band, the'lowest band and one or more of the intermediatebands being pro- VldBd'Wltll cross-bars, and a strut adapted to preventcollapse of the form'and composed of separable'sections-separablyconnected with said Crossbars.

5. A collapsible skirt form comprising a series of annular bandsincluding a waist band, and a plurality offlexible strips, eachintersecting and pivoted to all the bands, the waistband beingadjustablein'diameter means for securing it at different diameters, andwith a longitudinally adjustable strut-engaging cross bar extendingacross the inte'l'lo'r of the Waist clamping nuts,

all of the bands, maintained at any dlameter to which they Madam:

bandand composed of Overlapping Sections attached tothe waist bandand'providedwith means whereby they may be'secured together atdifiere'ntadjustments;

6. A- collapsible skirt form comprising a series of annularbandsincluding a waist band and one or more hip bands below the waistband, and a series of flexible strips each intersecting and pivoted toall the bands whereby the form may be longitudinally collapsed wholly orin part, the said stripsbeing composed of elongated lower sectionspivoted to the bandsbelow the hip portion of the form, and shorter uppersec tions pivoted to the upper ends of the lower sections and tothewaist" and hip bands, whereby the lower portion of the form may bepartially collapsed without collapsing the upper portion.

7 A collapsible skirt form comprising a series of annular bands, aseries of flexible strips each intersectingall the bands, pivotsconnecting thestrips and bands, the whole forming a structure which islongitudinally collapsible by pivotal movements of thestrips on thebands, and'abrace pivoted at one end to a portion of the structure andadapted to be detachably connectedat its opposite end to an adjacentportion ofthe structure, said brace being arranged when connected, toprevent pivotal movements of the strips relatively to the bands."

8. A collapsible skirt formcomprising a seriesuof diametricallyadjustable annular bands-eachcomposed ofa flexible strip, the

end portions of which overlap and are provided with longitudinal slots,and bolts engagedwith said slots and provided with maybe adjusted,crossbar sections secured .to and projecting inwardly from two or more.ofthe-bands and provided with slots at their meeting 7 ends, bolts 1engaged with said slots and provided wlth clamping nuts whereby thecross bar sections are ad ustably connected, a series of flexible stripseach intersecting and pivoted to all the bands,"and a longitudinallyadjustable strut composed of slotted section's secured to the cross barsby the said cross bar bolts and their nuts.

9. A collapsible skirt form comprising upper and lower portions,- eachof said por-,

whereby the bands m y be the lower section, to facilitate adjustment ofears embracing the edges of the upper por- 10 the taper of the uppersection. tion of the band.

11. Askeleton skirtform comprisingaseries In testimony whereof I haveaflixed my of annular bands and connecting vertical signature, inpresence of two Witnesses.

c strips, said bands and strips pivotally connected and spaced somewhatfrom each other CHARLES UFFORD' at the pivotal points of connection, thean- Witnesses: nular bands being divided, slotted and over- A. W.HARRISON, lapped, the outer overlapped end having P. W. PEZZETTI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.

